Chapter 197: Encounter with an Assassination

The waiting process always carries an air of restlessness.

To divert her attention, Su Wan inquired about the people and events she encountered tonight, especially about that girl named Zhao’er.

“Qingyuan, do her maidservants usually wear veils?”

Su Wan frowned slightly. The grandeur with which Zhao’er traveled was even more extravagant than that of noble ladies and young mistresses.

Qingyuan was about seventeen or eighteen years old, with ordinary looks, but her brows and eyes exuded a sense of heroism. Her long hair was tied into a ponytail, giving her a fresh and neat appearance.

“Zhao’er is the top courtesan nurtured by Hongxiu House . Many matters require her personal involvement, so from the beginning, they deliberately created a reputation for her.

Her maidservants have worn veils from the start. It is rumored in the capital that Zhao’er dislikes people more beautiful than her and also dislikes being served by those with plain appearances, which is why she has her attendants wear veils.

These rumors have only increased her popularity. Everyone is eager to get a glimpse of the servants around her to see if they are truly the carefully selected beauties the rumors describe—worth spending a fortune to see.”

Qingyuan explained from the side, “Young Lady, you don’t need to worry that those maidservants wore veils specifically for you today. Zhao’er’s actions are always ostentatious and flamboyant. If she made such a sudden change, it would only raise suspicion.”

Su Wan understood. Zhao’er’s behavior served a dual purpose—drawing business to Hongxiu Housewhile also conveniently facilitating covert operations.

Those who knew her true identity were people carefully cultivated for key purposes. In official circles and among wealthy merchants, visiting brothels to discuss business had become a kind of drinking table culture, and brothels had turned into major hubs for gathering intelligence.

“As the saying goes, ‘the most dangerous place is the safest place.’ With Zhao’er flaunting herself and being the top courtesan in the capital, who would ever expect me to slip out of the city disguised among her entourage?”

Su Wan suddenly recalled something. “Does no one know that Father is the real owner behind it?”

Qing Yuan suddenly smiled. “No one knows that the true owner behind the scenes is the master. Back when it was founded, the master selected someone with a suitable family background to serve as the public owner of the Hongxiu House and had him pledge loyalty to the Crown Prince.

Those with high status and access to information in the capital all assume that Hongxiu House is backed by the Crown Prince and consider it part of his enterprise. As a result, most of the Crown Prince’s faction frequents Hongxiu Tower.”

Su Wan couldn’t help but chuckle to herself. Wouldn’t all the intelligence related to the Crown Prince end up flowing straight into Father’s hands?

As expected, he truly is an old fox.

She couldn’t help but adopt a more serious tone. “How is Father’s situation?”

“Rest assured, Young Lady. The master is unharmed,” Qingyuan replied, offering no unnecessary details.

Feeling uneasy, Su Wan stood up and walked to the window, pushing it open.

It was a small rural courtyard with a few mud-brick houses. The yard was barren, with not a single blade of grass or tree in sight.

“The carriage that brought me from the capital, did it leave in the opposite direction?”

“Yes, it headed south.” Qingyuan, not one for many words, added, “The master will arrive before nightfall.”

Su Wan looked at the dim, early morning sky. Dawn had yet to break, and now she had to wait until nightfall.

With every passing moment, the feeling of anxiety grew stronger.

“Would you like to rest for a while, Young Lady?” Qingyuan offered as she prepared the bed for her.

“You sleep for a while first. Once Father arrives, we might have to set out again, and then I can rest.”

With so much on her mind, Su Wan couldn’t sleep. She took out a medical book. “I’ll read for a while.”

Qingyuan didn’t dare sleep either, staying alert and observing the surroundings.

The master was preparing to act against the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince would undoubtedly sense the danger, likely fighting with his back to the wall.

—

The sky was turning pale with the first light of dawn, and the gates of the Regent’s residence stood wide open.

The Regent had made a brief visit to the imperial palace. For this mission to Xiliang, he was accompanied by officials—Master Wen from the Ministry of Rites and Vice Minister Li from the Court of Diplomatic Reception—along with a team and ceremonial gifts.

The Crown Prince stood atop the palace walls, watching the departing entourage, smoothing the creases on his wide sleeves.

Standing nearby, Ji Lin asked, “Your Highness, when shall we take action?”

“This matter is not your concern. I have my own arrangements,” the Crown Prince replied, withdrawing his gaze from the city walls. As he descended, he encountered an attendant rushing toward him. The man glanced around cautiously and lowered his voice.

“Your Highness, Su Wan left the capital last night. Our men identified a suspicious carriage that exited the city after the gates had closed. Should we pursue it?”

“Chase it immediately!” The Crown Prince’s expression darkened, his voice sharp. “If Su Wan is willing to return, treat her well. If she resists, execute her on the spot.”

“Understood!” The attendant acknowledged the order and swiftly departed.

The Crown Prince was fighting with his back to the wall—victory would crown him king, and defeat would mark him a traitor.

As long as the Regent lived, Su Wan had to remain firmly under his control.

The poison within him could not be cured.

——

The entourage departed from the capital. The Regent leaned against a soft pillow, with a thin blanket draped over him.

He was flipping through a copy of The Chronicle of Zhou and occasionally covered his mouth to stifle a cough.

“Where is Lingzhao now?”

“He should have arrived.”

“Good.”

The Regent felt discomfort in his chest and coughed a few times, his breath heavy.

“Any movement from the Crown Prince?” he asked casually, his mind lingering on the Crown Prince’s potential actions.

He had trained many elite soldiers under his command, and there was a good chance an ambush might be set along the way.

Luo Cheng responded, “You ordered an investigation into his armory. After Su Jihong’s death, the Crown Prince had the armory dismantled, and a large portion of the weapons inside was secretly transported away.”

The Regent suddenly sat up straight and lifted the curtain of the carriage. He saw the long procession heading toward a narrow and dangerous mountain pass. His gaze sharpened, and he spoke coldly, “Order the procession to stop and send a few horses ahead.”

Luo Cheng immediately understood the Regent’s intention. During military campaigns, enemy forces often set ambushes at strategic chokepoints, so they needed to proceed with caution.

“I will take care of it at once.” Luo Cheng dismounted from the carriage and arranged for three horses to ride abreast ahead to scout the way.

Once the arrangements were in place, he quickly returned to the carriage.

“Do you suspect the Crown Prince has set an ambush along the way?” Luo Cheng furrowed his brow. If there was an ambush, the enemy would likely remain hidden and not startle the horses, making it difficult for them to detect.

Just as the Regent was about to speak, a sudden explosion thundered through the air.

The carriage came to an abrupt halt.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A series of explosions followed, shaking the earth and the mountains.

The Regent’s gaze fell on the open page of The Chronicle of Zhou, where the entry began: “In the Battle of Gourd Valley, fire weapons were hidden underground; when encountered by men and horses, they were instantly torn apart.”

Luo Cheng’s expression changed drastically. He lifted the curtain, only to see thick smoke billowing ahead, a mist of blood filling the air. The heavy scent of blood and sulfur spread, making it impossible to see the surroundings clearly.

His face darkened with rage as he exclaimed, “Master, the Crown Prince has planted mines! I’ll go investigate immediately!”

With that, Luo Cheng leapt from the carriage, only to be greeted by a sword thrusting toward him. He dodged swiftly and drew the flexible sword from his waist to counter the attack, shouting loudly, “Assassins! Protect the master!”

The Vice Minister of the Court of Diplomatic Reception and Master Wen from the Ministry of Rites, unable to make out the situation in the thick smoke, shouted, “Everyone, stay close to the carriage! No one is to move recklessly!”

The guards quickly surrounded the carriage, along with Vice Minister Li and Master Wen, forming a protective circle. They had no choice but to rely on the sounds around them to engage the enemies in combat.

Master Li and Master Wen felt their hearts in their throats as people around them fell one after another, hot blood splattering on their faces. Their complexions turned deathly pale as they trembled in fear. They hurriedly edged toward the carriage, moving swiftly to climb aboard.

“Ah—!”

Master Wen cried out in pain as a sharp sting pierced his back. He tumbled into the carriage, just as a long sword embedded itself deep into the wooden wall of the vehicle.